Texas Rangers Blog

Why sign extension with Ian Kinsler? Rangers had to have him

Of all the deals the Rangers could have done this spring, they did the right one this week.

Because the bottom line is this: They can’t sign everybody, but they had to have Ian Kinsler.

A five-year contract extension at an average of $15 million a year shows once again that Jon Daniels has his priorities straight if he’s building a club around pitching, speed and defense.

Kinsler represents the heart of an old baseball maxim: Always value a young guy with power and speed.

Kinsler, 29, has twice put up seasons of 30-home runs and 30-stolen bases. The only other American League second baseman who’s done it is Alfonso Soriano, who did it twice with the Yankees and once with Texas.

Soriano will be making $18 million a year through 2014 to play an indifferent outfield for the Cubs.

Kinsler, on the other hand, is one of the league’s best defensive second basemen and a valuable lead-off hitter. His all-or-nothing swing still rankles at times. Base-running gaffes remain a possibility.

But he’s aggressive, the embodiment of Ron Washington’s approach. He’s as important as anyone in the lineup.

The Rangers figured out last year how to keep him healthy, giving him more days off. The rest also allows the Rangers to play Michael Young at second, his best defensive position.

Now that Kinsler is done, Josh Hamilton, Mike Napoli and Nelson Cruz are playing for contracts. That’s as it should be. Each has something to prove. Hamilton and Cruz must show they can remain healthy. Napoli has to demonstrate that last season’s .320 average, nearly 60 points above his career average, wasn’t an anomaly.

Another old baseball maxim: Never give a player a contract after a career year.
The Rangers know who Kinsler is. They made a wise investment.